The Butterflies

These butterflies appeared on our walk to the River.  Five of them were clustered right by edge very close together.  When we arrived there one flew up and around us coming very close.  You can see this one on the tree. 

Later on this one came in front of us and landed on a leaf as if to pose for the photo.  As soon as the photo was taken it flew off.  This particular type of butterfly is always at this particular River, when in the River we will always have these butterflies flying around us, surprisingly close!

Of course the butterfly is about TRANSFORMATION! To say the Least.

Working With Chola Wengue (Click on the photos)

We went to the River during a very hot day to work with Chola to move some energy forward and to cleanse.  At the River we discovered a very rare phenomenon which was a cool mist moving over the surface of the River in waves.  By focusing the energy one is able to detect the subtle movements of the Spirit of the River and the other multiple Spirits who are present.  One is able to detect and feel the energy of the various different "currents" within the River.  

Much that is often missed can be appreciated when one takes the time to focus and to open ones Spiritual Senses to what is in front of one.  This particular Mist was easily defined from the air around it.  Its Spirit moved, approached and retreated, responded to the energies of the person working with it, and came in waves down the River.  

My same Granddaughter who I had shown how to feel the energy of the River weeks before,  was watching and observing me sitting on the stone and working with the Energy.  Once I had gotten, about 25 minutes later I noticed that she had quietly gone to the stone, sat down and was working with the Energy and feeling the Spirit in a very Sensitive Way, her movements were very receptive and her focus very strong.  It touched me deeply to see how her Spirit was embracing the moment of being with the River and was embracing the Teachings!

Note the magical light and textures of the water, how the Spirit responded to her presence and movements.  

A beautiful and magical moment!

Walk To The River!

It was late afternoon, early evening and we took a walk to the River.  My twin Grandchildren were very excited to be away from concrete, and eagerly anticipating the River!

Our walk took us past many Spirits and many interesting physical phenomena!

Here saplings grow from cracks in a huge stone cliff face.  How they are able to pull the nutrients and water they need from this barren terrain is extraordinary.  They are embodying a very important power of survival amid very difficult circumstances and a power of adaptability (we as Paleros can understand those powers as they are vital within our Tradition- those Paleros who cannot understand them must work hard to gain that understanding!)  The power of the tree is within its experience.  These trees are young yet have a very unusual experience which can be utilize when one is building a Medicine.  

The River is very mystical and the trees surrounding the water reveal Spirits looking at us, which ordinarily we may not notice.  By the River tree roots become exposed by the River pulling soil away from them.  This tree root is not only very beautiful but it also is the home of "someone"!  You can feel the power of this particular root and its unique experience.  You know that this is a root that you can gently chip some pieces from the underside to utilize in a Bilongo.

Water who Runs!

The Stones within the River are visible at this time because the River's waters are so low from drought.  Often these stones are not visible and cannot be sat on to contemplate as we did while we were there.  As a Taino and Palero, this is the reality that we live because we go to be right in the elements of the Misterio, without a narrow agenda or a mindset that is looking to just get "results".  We go to be with the Spirit because the best "results" come from the interrelationship and understanding of the Spirit which builds stronger character and long term results.

When you look for a result, you want to look for WHO is giving you that result so that you do not fall into the trap of taking things for granted and become egotistical and grandiose as a Medicine Person.

The More we Know, the more we Realize that 

WE DO NOT KNOW IT ALL!  AND WILL NOT KNOW IT ALL, ESPECIALLY IN ONE LIFETIME!

Knowing it all is rooted in the Traditional Practice of the Children Continuing the Tradition, and exploring and expanding on the Wisdom and Knowledge of the Elders!

River Camino

Camino to the River during an Ebo

During an ebo done for one of the Yayis of the Monanso the other week we traveled to a River for a specific Camino.  Although it was a saturday and a beautiful day, the river was quiet.  When we are on a Camino for an Ebo we always pay attention to all the conditions that are present, all the people who pass by, all the animals which show up or make their presence known and all the birds who fly or swim by.  

On this day the River was crystal clear and running swiftly.  The stones on the bottom of the river glistened, a fish jumped in the River, the Sun was shining and it was a warm Spring day.  Above you can see the waves and ripples in the river.  The texture and forms within the river can be captured on camera in a way that one cannot see in the moving river.  We utilize the camera as a way to capture a split second in a frozen frame in order to be able to spend more time focusing on the intricacies of what is in front and all around us on the Camino.  These are often things which evade the naked eye because of the constant movement of life!

Here a wave forms in the river allowing us to see the Spirit present and the energy present.  

Bumble bee is found going in and out of a hole under a leaf.

A monarch butterfly appeared around the Yayi when she was sitting by the River.  At one point the Monarch lay down with wings outspread on the bank of the River.

Butterfly is for obvious reasons about Transformation which was exactly what we look for during Ebo!  These are positive signs.

From a distance the Yayi is seen interrelating with the Spirit of the River.  She was in a peaceful spot, undisturbed by anyone.  We are at a distance down stream from her, quietly observing.

More waves in the River revealing Spirits of the River, normally unseen by us due to their rapid movement.  These Spirits are definitely unseen by the person in the process due to the sheer sensory overload of the natural environment.

It is an honor to be able to capture these pictures as testimony to the Spirits which made themselves known to us through the photos.

Here the River moves around a stone, over time the River pushes the stone out of the way, or wears the stone down.  This stone is rounded from years of water running over it.  The dryness on top of the stones speak volumes regarding this process.

There are many different currents within the river, some are smooth and gently flowing, others more rapid and exuberant.  The currents in the River are countless.  Each current brings something to the whole, and is significant within the Ebo.

Rapid bubbly current seen here.

As the water flows over stones a natural process of aeration occurs as the bubbly flow brings oxygen into the depths of the river, benefiting the many organisms who live within the River.

Here leaf and tree debris is trapped in the river.  These are utilized by animals.  At this location specifically the Beavers utilize the tree debris that gets trapped by the trees the beavers knock down with their teeth within the river.  They create homes with this "debris".

By the bank the water comes into a more sheltered spot where the flow is gentle due to boulders which shelter this spot from the fast flow of the center of the river.  Again this is yet another current within the many currents of the River.  All these represent a significant aspect of the Spirit of the River herself!

Bubbles appear on the gentle edge of the river, and the river reflects the dappled light coming from the Sun through the trees hanging over the River.  

These photos allows a small glimpse into the vast array of Spirits and Energies present when we go on a "simple Camino". It is very important as Paleros that we continue to open our senses and perception of the wide variety of Mysterios who make themselves known.

As we turned to go back up the river and return to the Yayi, we heard and saw the King Fisher with his unique song and flight pattern go by, as we were walking back again a second King Fisher flew by!

Seeking and Tracking Mysteries (Misterios) in the Forest!

As Paleros and as Tainos the forest provides and abundant place to seek and track Mysteries within it.  In the trees (Palos), in the stones, in the Earth, in the Moss, in the Roots, we find abundant Spirit and Mystery that is often overlooked by the unobservant walker.  In this particular walk we were looking for something specific and were looking to accomplish something specific.  In doing so there were many things photographed during our walk.  At this particular time we are utilizing some of these photographs as a teaching.  

This Palo has wrapped itself around an old barbed wire fence which caused a scarification which it still expresses.  You can see the Spirit in the Scarification looking directly at you.  Also notice in the right photo behind and to the right of the tree is another tree where a spirit can be seen clearly looking in this direction.  Here we ask "Who is that Spirit hiding in that Tree?"  The barbed wire was significant to us on this trail for reasons that I will not go into here.

Two hollows in two different Palos, one by the river, the other in the forest.  Each hollow contains valuable ingredients for the active Palero.  Sometimes the hollows may also be used to house for some time a piece of medicine.  We know that certain animals live in these hollows and also contribute to enriching the ingredients within the hollows through their debris, urine, fecal matter and through the energy they embody and through what they symbolize. Here we also question "Who is that Spirit who is living there?"  The tree by the water is a particular source of valuable ingredients because it is right by the river bank and absorbs much energy from the River herself.

Here we can see the strength of the roots of this tree that hold tightly to the slope showing qualities of tenacity.  Moss has grown in a soft blanket over the roots and soil surrounding the roots.  The tree itself shows a growth of sorts most likely from an event that took place when it was just a sapling.  This Palo embodies an energy of surviving under difficult conditions and overcoming an event without allowing that event to destroy it.  It is a good source to be utilized spiritually.

Again these roots of this Palo show their strength and are partially exposed to our view.  An animal has made a hole in between the roots and if we were to sit for long enough we could observe who made the hole or who had adopted it for their home.  The hole also provides and excellent point to gather soil for spiritual purposes.  Again we ask "Who is that Spirit who is looking at me?"

Here a large rocky outcrop can be seen that has formed a shallow cave.  This is a solid rock but trees have managed to grow right out of the rock by sending their roots down through cracks in the rock to access water and nutrients and extending their roots over the rock to the soil below.  Moss also has covered the rock.  These trees are surviving in extremely adverse conditions embodying the energy of persistence and creative use of resources.  This is another excellent place to put medicine (Nkisis or Cemi) for "empowering".

Here is a beautiful hole in the base of a tree.  Again what animal makes its home here below the hole and above as the hole opens both ways?  In the right photo very unusual growths make an amazing phenomenon come to life what is also strange is the covering of these growths with moss!  This is a rare sight in this forest and for us who find it, very spiritual.

Palo Muerto on the left with the holes left by the woodpecker (Inriri in Taino).  This Palo can be pulverized into a powder to be used for numerous purposes in Medicine.  The right photo shows a living Palo with two large poison ivy vines winding up it.  These vines are hairy and will cause rashes if touched (for the majority of people).  The vines can also be harvested and made into a powder for spiritual purposes.  Caution is suggested if you are going to work with this vine, do not handle it if you do not know how to.

Tree by the water with multiple trucks.  This tree instead of shooting one truck straight up sent out "suckers" that formed many trunks, some larger than others.  This tree is unlikely to be found other than in natural settings because trees that do this are generally pruned and these suckers never get to grow.  The tree is leaning towards the river behind it.  The other photo shows a beautiful view of the river coming around the bend.  Another amazing place for ceremony with the river and to extract ingredients needed for spiritual purposes, including water.  Often clays can be found next to the river.

Here a tree has fallen across the river, not only providing a bridge to the other side, but also has been in the river for some time.  The river took off all the bark from the tree and the tree has been washed by the river over many seasons.  This tree holds much important energy because of its "story" with the River.  It is also another good source for pulverizing wood into powder.

Here an unusual growth fascinates us, multiple spirits are visible in this growth!  On the left a strong, straight tree grips the earth with roots in the shape of a claw.  A stone is visible that the roots make their way around and over.  This tree represents strength, Palo Fuerte!

Here a living tree and a dead tree form a cross roads (Palo Vivo, Palo Muerto) almost in the basic shape of a firma where the living and the dead meet to communicate!  On the right a closer view of the hollow seen in the above photo.  We can see that there are things in the hollow that could be gathered or scraped.

This is a black walnut tree branch.  You can see a cluster of three walnuts in the center of the photo.  We use the black walnuts in fall when they fall and blacken as a dye for Batons, Cemis or carved Nkisi or for a garment that we may want to dye.  When we handle the black walnuts once we have pulverized them into a paste to extract the juices we use latex gloves as the walnut will stain the hands brown or black for weeks following their use.  Our three year old took one of the pilons from the Monanso and crushed up the black walnuts with other plants and by the time we noticed she had heavily stained her hands and it took some time before the stain finally washed away.  Of course we knew this was not anything negative but was something her Spirit was motivating her to do.

There are thousands of more of these types of photos but this is a small sampling to demonstrate what can be seen in the forest whether one is on a casual walk for relaxation or whether one is on the trail of gathering ingredients of spiritual purposes.  As Paleros and Tainos we never take a walk without keeping our eyes open to these Mysteries!  The forest is full of amazing Mystery and Spirit and it is always a blessing to be within the Sacred Forests!